Alphonso



A'. APPLEGATE.

Rein-Holders. N0.154,208. Pate nted Aug. 18,1874.

UNrTED STATES I PATENT QFFICE.

ALPHONSO APPLEGATE, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN RElN-HOLDERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 154,208, dated August 18, 1874; application filed December 11, 1872.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, ALPHoNso APPLEGATE, of the city of Philadelphia, county of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain Improvements inAutomaticBein-Holders, of which the following is a specification:

My invention is an improvement in reinholding devices formed of pivoted jaws which turn on pivots by action of springs and gripe the reins with pressure proportioned to the tension thereon. The improvement relates to the mode of connecting the pivots or axles of the holding-jaws, as hereinafter described.

In order to describe my invention more fully, I will refer to the accompanying drawings formin g a part of this specification.

Figure I is a front view of a dash-board to which my improved automatic rein-holder is attached. Fig. II is a front view of the same with the outer casing removed.

A is a dash-board as commonly used in front of carriagcs. A plate or shield, 13, with two ribs, a and b, is fastened to the front of a dashboard with screws or rivets, and, if desired to give increased strength for holding said screws or rivets, a shield or plate may he placed on the back of the dash-board, opposite B. Four grooves, 0, cl, 0, and f, are cut into the ribs a and b. The two handles or rein-holders G and D are placed with theirpivots or axles g and centric shafts E and F, placed on the lower end of the axles g and h, holds the toothed or grooved sides 'i and j of the handles 0 and D together, allowing them to be opened for inserting the reins R. The eccentric shafts or arms E and F are coupled together by pin 1. A casing, H, placed over the ribs, axles, springs, and eccentric shafts of the rein-holders, serves to hold the rein-holders in the grooves and protect the parts incased.

As soon as it is desired to insert the reins in the holders between the grooved sides it is only necessary to take hold of one of the holders, as the other is turned at the same time by aid of the eccentric shafts and the springs, and insert the reins and remove the hold on the holder. The reins are held firmly between the two grooved or toothed sides, and the more the horse pulls the firmer becomes the hold on the reins. By pulling back the reins they are easily removed from the holders.

Having thus fully described my invention, I desire to claim- The combination of jaws O and D, having vertical downward extensions forming pivots, arms E and F, connected by slot and pin, and a spring, S, as shown and described.

This specification signed this date, the 7th of December, 1872.

ALPHONSO APPLEGATE.

Witnesses:

THOS. S. SEABURY, FRANKLIN BARRITT. 

